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How Covid has increased the need for Remote Desktops using VPS servers.
With maximum personnel running from domestic amid trendy COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, company VPN servers have now grow to be paramount to a company’s backbone, and their safety and availability ought to be the point of interest going ahead for IT teams.
The use of far flung get entry to technology like RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and VPN (Virtual Private Network) has skyrocketed 41% and 33%, respectively, because the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The flow comes as a big variety of groups have requested body of workers to paintings from home, which commonly includes connecting to inner intranets thru far off get right of entry to technology just like the named above.
According to records, a seek engine that scans and indexes Internet-linked gadgets rather than websites, the variety of RDP endpoints has long gone from kind of three million recorded on the begin of the 12 months to nearly four. Four million on Sunday, March 29, 2020.
CONSUMER-GRADE VPN USE IS ALSO UP
But those numbers mirror corporation VPN servers established as gateways to intranet and company networks. Consumer-grade VPNs have additionally mentioned a comparable spike in utilization numbers — despite the fact that for one-of-a-kind motives than “getting access to company networks.” With maximum customers caught of their houses as countrywide quarantines are imposed all around the world, extra customers have resorted to the usage of VPN apps to pass geo-fenced content material at the same time as they browse the net from home.
Once your internet site has outgrown shared web website hosting, the subsequent step for maximum businesses is to shop for a digital non-public server (VPS). Of course, now no longer each organisation is the equal and there are a few reasonably-priced VPS web website hosting businesses out there.
Deciding on a VPS hosting is extra than simply the rate though. It is likewise essential to realize the technical specs of every VPS organisation, together with the OS, virtualization type, and overall performance demands; any functions which can have a determinate impact on internet site overall performance.
Host world provides powerful UK VPS Hosting.
We’re going to talk about the nine exceptional reasonably-priced VPS web website hosting businesses of 2021 and speak approximately the blessings and drawbacks of every. If you’re searching out brilliant UK net web website hosting and manipulate a huge internet site, then this one’s for you. Now that the uninteresting intro spiel over, let’s get to the thrilling stuff.
Best of all, Host world VPS alternatives are all absolutely cloud-primarily based totally so they’re extraordinarily reliable, have excessive up instances, and may without difficulty scale as your commercial enterprise grows.
Host world gives extraordinarily speedy reaction instances at international common of 143ms that could get right all the way down to 5ms in a few geographic areas. They additionally boast a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Host world additionally gives a totally customizable cPanel for net developers, loose area registration, and offers you lose get entry to a responsive guide group that assist you to with server issues.


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Shares of Elastic (ESTC -3.16%) soared 23.3% in June, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The software company saw its share price rise due to a strong fourth quarter earnings report and enjoyed the tailwinds of a broad recovery in growth stocks.
For the quarter ending April 30, Elastic generated $177.6 million in revenue, which was a huge beat from its own guidance of $158 million to $159 million. It also beat the consensus analyst expectation for $157.9 million in revenue. In fiscal year 2021, which ended on April 30 for Elastic, revenue was $608.5 million, up 42% year over year. Elastic's software-as-a-service (SaaS) segment is growing like a weed. Revenue for the segment was $166.3 million last year, growing at a rapid 80% year over year.
Going deeper into the financials, Elastic generated $18.3 million in free cash flow last year, giving it a 3% free cash flow margin. In fiscal year 2022, management guided for $782 million to $788 million in revenue and expects to hit $1 billion in revenue the year after. These strong growth expectations combined with positive free cash flow likely have investors excited about investing in Elastic stock.
Elastic has three core software products that it sells to other enterprises: search, observability, and security. Software engineers and data scientists at companies like Adobe (ADBE 1.39%) and T-Mobile (TMUS -0.21%) use Elastic to search and organize huge datasets, improving efficiency on the backend and hopefully finding ways to improve the customer experience. With 64.2 zettabytes (one zettabyte equals a trillion gigabytes) of data generated worldwide in 2020 that is projected to grow at a 19% rate through 2025, there's no wonder more and more companies are using Elastic products.
Elastic is growing quickly and should be able to ride an industry tailwind for years to come. With a market cap of $13.42 billion, the stock currently trades at a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 22, making it expensive relative to most other companies. However, if you believe Elastic can get to $1 billion in sales by 2023 and increase its profit margins, this high valuation should come down rather quickly. After the 23.3% run-up in June, it might not be time to go all-in on Elastic stock, but if you're a longtime shareholder, there's no reason to sell here if you believe in this company's potential.

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Marett Taylor, chief sales officer, A&K Travel Group, has made it her mission to make it easier and more rewarding for advisors to do business with what has become a multi-pronged company with the addition of river ships, lodges and the acquisition last year of Crystal Cruises.
The parent company of pioneering tour operator Abercrombie & Kent also has 13 camps and lodges in Africa and four riverboats in Egypt with more growth planned in every sector.
“The more we can align everything we do across the group, the better,” Taylor told TravelPulse. In the big picture, she said, “Everyone should know they will get one standard of service whether it be Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal or anything else.”
With 55 offices around the world and multiple destination management companies (DMCs), said Taylor, “We’ve learned that we all have different strengths and now we are looking at where our greatest strengths lie – whether it be booking, sales or payment – and equalizing those strengths across the company to offer a more seamless experience for advisors.” Travel advisors, she said, contribute a majority of A&K’s bookings.
One project underway is a comprehensive advisor portal that will include many elements that have been identified across the group as best in class. Whether it be training or payment, said Taylor, “we want to put it all in one place.” While there is an existing portal and a “light portal” for the DMCs, she said, “We want a more robust set of offerings.” The new portal will be phased in over the next two years.
Beyond that, said Taylor, sales and marketing processes, loyalty programs, IT systems and the database will also be aligned worldwide. Since the company grew in an organic way, she said, “We want to control that last mile, meaning quality is there all the way through for clients.” That’s also why, she said A&K builds its own riverboats and develops its own DMCs – so it can have control of all these elements.
The other positive about having a more centralized operation, said Taylor, is being able to provide flexibility to clients who might want to join A&K for a cruise one year and a tour the next. “Repeat guests,” she said, “love having so many choices in one company.” Taylor said the company has a high repeat guest factor, especially for Marco Polo members “who love being the first to go to a new destination.” The Marco Polo Club is a loyalty program for frequent A&K clients.
With the addition of a cruise line, said Taylor, more “elevated” experiences can be delivered at sea – like private A& K type shore excursions. Also on tap are unique events. Recently, for instance, on a “shakedown” cruise for the Crystal Serenity, passengers enjoyed an opera in a castle in Naples – the type of experience, she said, that has been done with the company’s private jet programs or on select safaris.
There are ambitious plans for Crystal, with A&K promising to add two ocean ships and two expedition vessels in the next five years. Taylor said this is doable because, over the last 18 months, the company has managed to totally refurbish two ships (including combining suites), creating a website and reservation system and fully relaunching both ships on schedule. When she met the Crystal team, said Taylor, “I was blown away by how they know the business inside out so I know they can add four ships.”
In its ramped-up efforts toward advisors, said Taylor, A&K recently announced several new hires and promotions within its trade sales team, including multiple appointments in Crystal’s office in Aventura, Florida.
On the DMC and property side, said Taylor, there are multiple active projects based on where guests and advisors want the company to provide products. “Advisors are not shy about telling us where we need to be,” she said. That includes those on the A&K advisory board who meet at least quarterly and have one in-person meeting annually in the U.S. or overseas. These advisors, said Taylor, have decades of experience in all different sectors and provide “incredibly valuable guidance because they recognize industry trends.”
Taylor said she has a particular affinity for travel sellers because her mother is a long-time advisor named Anne Taylor. She is an Africa expert and spends half the year in Kenya where is from and half the year in Montana. Marett herself has spent a great deal of time in Africa and speaks Swahili.
What her mother feels most happy about, said Taylor, is “when she transforms people’s world views.” When she was a child, said Taylor, her mother would read letters from clients at the breakfast table about what a travel experience had meant for them. When she gets too deep into the numbers, she said, “That’s when I have to think that this is what it’s all about—connecting people to places.”
Taylor herself has a 10-year-old daughter and said the way the child thinks about the world gives her perspective and inspiration. Said Taylor, “She wants us to build experiences she will learn from and love.”
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.


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Who says you can’t go home again? Core Brands announced this week that Jason Dominique has rejoined the company to take the role of National Sales Manager of the Security Channel. Dominique previously worked for Core Brands’ Proficient line from 2005 to 2013.
Core Brands announced today that it has promoted Loren Maldoon to Director of Sales, Security Channel. An internal advancement, previous to this promotion, Maldoon had been National Sales Manager for Core Brands’ Proficient Audio brand.
See more on this announcement… [Read more…] about Core Brands Promotes Maldoon to Director of Sales, Security Channel
The 2012 CEDIA Expo launched with a bang for me as I previously reported when, upon entering the convention center, I was collared by a PR person who quickly walked me (without explanation) to a high-level executive for a Nortek company who felt the need to tell me – in compelling and direct terms – what he thought of strata-GEE.com’s coverage of the Core Brands consolidation. (Hint: he didn’t like it.) After a few minutes of somewhat hot-under-the-collar conversation, things cooled off a bit and he offered to get me together with the Core Brands management to clarify the situation.
Now we’re getting somewhere… [Read more…] about EXCLUSIVE: Nortek’s Core Brands Clears the Air with strata-GEE.com in Exclusive EXPO Interview
Wednesday, the day before the 2012 CEDIA Expo opens its show floor, is both the day many integrators come to the convention center to take educational classes – and also the press comes for a day full of press conferences.
I approached the event this year with a high level of anticipation, as our strata-GEE.com CEDIA survey suggested that attendance might be better than originally anticipated. As I approached the convention center, I was surprised by the lack of activity around the outside of the hall. Then a CEDIA hotel shuttle bus showed up and – suddenly – we had a fair amount of activity.
Little did I know that when I entered the hall, I had a rather intense surprise waiting… [Read more…] about Seeing CEDIA Expo in a Whole New Light
Multiple industry sources have confirmed that Xantech President Graham Hallett has resigned his position with the company, effective September 1st. Xantech is one of ten Nortek, Inc. brands being consolidated under the new “Core Brands” umbrella company, the formation of which we recently reported.
Since the consolidation of the various Nortek brands began back in 2010, there have been many employees leaving the company – mostly at lower- and mid-level positions. Recently, however, some of the top-level executives of the various Nortek brands have joined the exodus.
List of Nortek’s ex-execs continues to grow…
This Monday, Nortek, Inc. announced yet another reorganization, their third major structural change since the company decided to group its A/V assets under one roof back in April 2010. The company has created yet another new company called Core Brands which will further consolidate and control a total of ten of the company’s A/V brands in their Technology Solutions Segment (TECH).
The brands affected by this consolidation include Aton, BlueBOLT, Elan, Furman, Niles, Panamax, Proficient, SpeakerCraft, Sunfire, and Xantech. Core Brands will be based at offices in Petaluma, CA; Calrsbad, CA; Riverside, CA; and Marblehead, MA.


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Store brands posted double-digit sales increases across US supermarkets, discounters, and drug stores as shoppers stocked up on products during the first stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nielsen reports that first quarter dollar sales of private label products across all retail outlets compared to the year before climbed nearly 15 percent during the first quarter, up $4.9 billion. Unit volume increased nearly 13 percent, representing a gain of around 1.5 billion products sold.
Total dollar sales of store brands in the first quarter were $38.4 billion and units were 13.2 billion. Store brands more than held their own against the national brands. During the quarter, private label gained about one third more in both dollar and unit sales than national brands, according to data provided to the Private Label Manufacturers Association by Nielsen.
In all US retail outlets, store brands grew +14.6 percent percent in dollar volume and +12.8 percent in unit volume, compared to gains of +11.5 percent in dollars and +9.2 percent in units for national brands. Private label manufacturers, meanwhile, are making some significant operational changes to cope with the rising demand. In certain categories, such as paper goods, over-the counter medicines and hand sanitizers, factories are operating 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Some companies are creating fair share allocations for high-demand products, while many are simplifying SKU offerings, extending lead times to build inventories and retooling to be more efficient for growing e-commerce business.
Among the retail channels, the strongest gains for store brands occurred in mass, which consists of mass merchandisers, club and dollar stores. Store brands gained +16.6 percent in dollar sales and +16.5 percent in unit sales compared to the same quarter in 2019.
That expansion surpassed national brands, which advanced +10.1 percent in dollars and +7.3 percent in units. As a result, store brands market shares increased by 1.2 points in dollars to 21.7 percent and 1.5 points in units to 25.8 percent, as compared to the same quarter a year ago. In supermarkets, store brands also increased, up +12.7 percent in dollar volume and +9.7 percent in unit volume. National brands did slightly better, up +15 percent in dollars and up +11.4 percent in units.
Store brands market shares were unchanged for the quarter, at 18 percent of dollars and 22.3 percent of units. In drug stores, where sales of all brands have had rough going the past few years, store brands did quite well. Dollar sales were up +13 percent and unit sales were ahead +12.4 percent, both substantially better than national brands, which were up +7 percent and +1 percent, respectively. When compared to the first quarter of 2019, store brands share moved up about one full point to 17 percent of dollars and to 15.9 percent of units.
PLMA President Brian Sharoff said, “There’s no doubt that shopper behavior was highly influenced by consumer fears. Nonetheless the statistics point to greater acceptance of retailer brands as the coronavirus crisis evolves.”


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East of England Co-operative has seen a 25% reduction in both food waste and the cost of waste disposal since it started selling products past their ‘best before’ date at discounted prices.
Speaking at the ACS Heart of the Community event in London on Tuesday, East of England joint ceo Roger Grosvenor said the initiative, which was launched in December 2017, had saved 260,000 items going to anaerobic digestion waste disposal plants.
Under the Co-op Guide to Dating initiative, tinned foods, packets, cereal, fruit and vegetables, bread, cake and dried food are all sold for 10p after they have passed their best before date.
Grosvenor was speaking on an ‘environment’ panel alongside C-Store editor David Rees, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton, and Hubbub founder Trewin Restorick.
He advised independent retailers to “empower your staff to make decision on ‘reduce to clear’”.
The panel also focused on the practicalities of Deposit Return Schemes, which the government is set to consult on, and other in-store initiatives designed to reduce plastic packaging and waste.
Hubbub, an environmental charity, has just launched a recycling on-the-go trial across Leeds city centre in conjunction with the local council, with the backing of 23 brands including the Association of Convenience Stores.
Restorick said the public had already responded well to the trial, demonstrating a thirst for recycling. “People aren’t necessarily redeeming the coupons – they just want to recycle.”
C-Store editor David Rees added: “Retailers are not solely responsible for plastic waste. I think everyone needs to understand that there is an entire supply chain at work from the factory to the end consumer and any solution needs to see all the elements of that supply chain playing their part, while central and local government also need to make the UK’s different recycling regimes a lot more coherent and consistent across county boundaries.
“Plastic waste is an issue that is not going away, and I think it’s important that retailers make some sort of visible progress so that their customers know they take the issue seriously. There are lots of small changes that are worth looking into, such as compostable coffee cups or refillable solutions for certain products.”
In a separate panel session on crime, Stephen Hammond MP pledged to use his position as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Retail Crime to promote the message that people should expect to be challenged on their age when buying age-restricted products.
Figures from the ACS crime report show that enforcing an age-restricted policy is one of the top three triggers of abuse and violence against people working in convenience stores.
Highlighting the importance of messaging to deter crime, the Wimbledon MP said: “There’s huge variation across the country in terms of attitudes and messaging.
“If you give out the message we won’t investigate a crime under a certain level, you’re giving out the message that it’s ‘open season chaps’. Messaging is really importance.”
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The convenience sector is facing significant challenges, including variable and sometimes unacceptable police response to crimes committed against retailers and their staff, rising employment costs, and defining the right ways for local shops to help customers to recycle and reduce their environmental impact.
”Keeping these issues high on the agenda of both local and national government, despite the ongoing Brexit negotiations and other priorities, is crucial if we are to help deliver workable policies that support local shops.”


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The department store’s CEO said the cuts were critical to rebuild the foundation of the business, which has been impacted due to Covid-19
Image: Mike Mozart
Bed Bath & Beyond, the US department store retailer, has axed 2,800 jobs from its corporate HQ and retail stores.
The seller of home, beauty and lifestyle products said the redundancies were necessary in order to reduce the cost of the business.
With the realignment, it aims to generate future pre-tax cost savings of...
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Since the term was coined in 2016, femtech, a sub-sector in health technology dedicated to creating solutions that address female wellbeing continues to gain traction and attract VC funding globally. In Africa, however, the space is still very much in its budding phase. This segment is dedicated to telling stories of innovators, their solutions, the investors and challenges of the sector as it blooms in the continent.
Ugandan femtech company, CHIL AI Group wants to build a technology solution for every need of African women. It is a tall order but President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa says the three-year old company is well on its way there.
Last year, Kaliisa was part of a group of African innovators who toured Asia under the Co-Creation Hub Pitchdrive program, seeking partnerships and funding from investors and manufacturers in the global technology hub.
At the time, the company was just CHIL AI Lab, manufacturing cervical and breast cancer self-test kits and offering women access to a less invasive path to early diagnosis. Through its AI-powered mobile app named Keti, women could consult with oncology experts, have samples collected and sent to laboratories, have their test results interpreted and advised on what next steps to take.
In sub-Saharan Africa, cervical cancers are the second leading cause of cancer among women and the leading cause of female cancer deaths. Caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a large percentage of fatalities result from diagnosis at an advanced stage where the cancer is untreatable.
Keti and the self-testing kits are among an increasingly prevalent group of self-diagnostic solutions that are furthering less-invasive and speedier diagnosis for women especially given the history of delayed diagnosis and the nature of screenings for diseases like cervical cancer, which are often intrusive and generally very discomforting.
As at last year, the company was turning in an annual revenue of US$300,000 and the kits are in use across 25 countries.
Fast forward a few months later and the company has metamorphosed into CHIL AI Group and is building out products in other sub sectors including agritech, fintech and drone technology targeted specifically at women.
“In Africa, women bear the biggest burden in running the day to day activities of their families,” Dr Kaliisa tells TechCabal.
“Helping women [solve personal challenges] not only helps women but the entire family.”
Under its new agritech business, CHIL AI Group is offering farmers a solar cold shed technology solution that the company says can keep vegetable produce fresh for at least 24 days and animal produce for a reasonable period.
The cooling technology solution is provided under a joint venture with Solercool, an American solar cooling technology company.
Its other agritech solution, Lima, uses artificial intelligence to predict pests attacks among other agricultural support provisions to farmers.
The new fintech business is something Kalissa first hinted at in 2019. Available in Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan, CHIL AI Group has developed a smart card savings plan to help cancer patients afford upfront medical costs when the need arises.
“In Uganda, health insurance penetration is below 5% with the majority of insurance consumers belonging to the more educated, urban population,” Kaliisa says.
“This leaves the largest percentage of marginalised people living in rural areas and paying out of pocket when there is any kind of sickness.”
The card is issued when a woman registers on the website and is instructed to download a mobile app and choose a savings package via which daily, weekly or monthly remittances not under US$1 can be made. With the smart card, users can digitally pay for upfront health costs with whatever amount saved up at the time.
“The fear of incurring out-of-pocket costs can hinder women from accessing healthcare when they need it,” Kaliisa says.
Women who do not have smart phones can still obtain and top up the cards by directly contacting the startup.
Under its drone services businesses, the company is offering drones for healthcare, e-commerce, and agricultural activities. They deliver samples to labs, spray chemicals over large swathes of farmland, or have items delivered to customers.
In the near future, the company is also looking to robotics to automate its medical consultation, interpretation and referral services and will begin testing the solution, Julie, by 2021.
It may seem like a tug in a lot of directions but partnerships with strategic international companies like Solercool and ADAG Health are making the roll outs of these services possible.
“I am looking at expanding my impact,” Kaliisa, who is a cancer survivor herself, says.
“Offering cancer screenings alone won’t bring food on table for these sick women.”
On average, women make up about 40-50% of sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural workforce. In Uganda, this ratio could be as high as 56% and tools that ensure easier farm labour or reduce food losses by optimising storage technologies increase productivity and economic outcomes for them.
Last month, Kaliisa was selected to take part in the inaugural Future is Female Mentorship Program, a public relations and communications mentorship program dedicated exclusively to African tech female founders. The program, an initiative by C. Moore Media, is the first of its kind on the continent.
Under the program, Kaliisa and 11 other female founders will learn from global technology and non-technology companies how to better position and communicate their brands and businesses to grow and achieve the right kind of visibility.
“One of the reasons I applied for that program was because they are offering what I have not heard anyone offer,” she says.
“PR is the backbone of a business and in the end I hope to learn from experienced PR mentors how to achieve the same for CHIL AI Group.”
CHIL AI was born out of Kaliisa’s and her late mother’s struggle with cancer. Frustrated that women were often late when they arrived at the hospitals, she sought out to find ways to facilitate earlier and cheaper testing for women.
With the new direction of the company, Kaliisa is hoping to provide more women across the continent, particularly in low-income communities, with technology solutions across a wider range of sectors outside of health.
As a result of the dearth of women in technology, solutions that center women are often lost in the sea of technology innovation happening across the globe. Not only does this deprive women of the chance to reap the benefits that digital tools avail, it deprives women from innovation that takes into consideration the specificity of being and moving through the world as female.
“We are mothers of continents,” Kaliisa says.
“Just like the saying goes, what affects mama affects everyone. Unless we help women live better lives, less will be accomplished in terms of family [and societal] development,” she says.


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I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Mediatonic just confirmed that they are delaying the release of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout on Switch and Xbox consoles. “With…more»
Mediatonic has laid out some of the new content and updates planned for the Season 3.5 update of its popular game, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. In addition to a brand-new…more»
GameTrailers has posted a new, live-action “Special Holiday Trailer” for Fall Guys: Season Three. Season Three of Fall Guys is nicknamed “Winter Knockout” because it is based on snowy courses,…more»
Season Three of Mediatonic’s Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout launched a few days ago. Several of us at GF365 have been enjoying the new stages, obstacles, and costumes. The “Winter Knockout”…more»
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Season 3 is out now with a new winter theme. As Cliff mentioned a few days ago, the new season is filled with a ton of…more»
Fall Guys Season 3 drops winter-themed stages, costumes and a new obstacle into its rotation within the next week.


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Dead or Alive 5, Team Ninja’s Sexy fighting game will be making its way to the PlayStation Vita early next year, studio lead Yosuke Hayashi confirmed. The Vita version will be known as Dead or Alive 5 Plus, but not much specifics have been given at this time. “We plan to release Dead or Alive 5 Plus on the PlayStation Vita at an early stage of next year,” Hayashi said. “DOA5’s arrival on a new hardware will bring new players to the existing communities and for our loyal and core fans like everyone gathered today can now practice and brush up their skills anywhere they want.”
“Be assured that features which are appealing as the DOA5 Plus name reads are planned.” The announcement was made on the official IGN Pro League YouTube channel. Another thing that was revealed is that a new update will be coming to the home console version of Dead or Alive 5 next year.
Dead or Alive 5 was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in September and features over 19 characters including guest stars from Sega’s Virtua Fighter and introduces many new features to the series, such as a new power attack called Power Blow which is activated when the opponent’s health drops below %50 and enables you to knock him away, possibly into a Danger Zone or over a cliff which will initiate a quick time event called Cliffhanger.
Article from Gamersyndrome.com


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The Value of Commerce Content for the Publishing Industry
- Continued Change In News Consumption Patterns
- Digitally Earned Revenues And How They Currently Can’t Counterbalance Losses In Traditional Sources
- Commerce Content And How It Supports A Publisher’s Monetization And Content Strategy
The circumstances have changed in the publishing industry over the last 20 years. Readers have transitioned online and forced newspapers to do the same and adjust to significantly different ways of consuming content.
Consumers now have access to more options when it comes to content consumption, and most of them are free. In order to keep their readership engaged, newspapers and magazines seek to serve in increasingly different ways and add more helpful information and stories to their online portfolio, some of which were already a feature of their offline versions.
Besides serving their audience, new content types – one of which is Commerce Content in its different forms – are key to support Publishing Houses’ digital monetization efforts and help them to master the shift from print to online. The era of free content and information has brought hardships for the industry that needed to act fast and adapt, by adding new income streams without risking a significant deterioration of the experience of their readers while interacting with their products.
In this article, we will put a spotlight on the financial impact on digitalization on the publishing industry during the last 2 decades and show the growing importance of Commerce Content in the new mix of digital monetization efforts for media.
Continued Change In News Consumption Patterns
In 2018, 34% of U.S. adults said they preferred to get news online, either through websites, apps, or social media (a 6% increase since 2016).
One-in-five adults now cite social media as their source of news, with Facebook continuing to dominate the digital space with over 2.5 billion users in the fourth quarter of 2019. That in mind, it can be assumed that the online consumption of news will likely become the norm in the years to come.
Source: Preferred Methods Of News Consumption, USA (2016-2018) – % of U.S. adults who gets news often on each platform, Pew Research
Besides consuming on-the-go, the user today is also expecting his consumption experience to be uninterrupted, taking action to avoid being targeted with advertising in his journey. The usage of ad blocking software is on the rise as a part of this shift in consumer behavior.
Source: Adblocking user penetration rate in the U.S. from 2014 to 2021, Statista
While Social Media websites or search engines through their native advertising systems remain largely unaffected from ad-blocking software, websites utilizing predominantly display advertising suffer a strong reduction in earning potentials from this trend.
News publishers and magazines in addition face continued decline in their print subscriptions starting already from the late 20th century.
Source: Total circulation for U.S. daily newspapers, Pew Research
Digitally Earned Revenues And How They Currently Can’t Counterbalance Losses In Traditional Sources
The changes in the readers’ behavior are also causing a shift in the way newspapers monetize. According to surveys conducted by the Reuters Institute, 44% of publishing executives rank digital subscriptions as vital in their revenue generation strategies.
Besides subscriptions, also digital advertising increases in importance. In 2018, digital advertising accounted for 35% of the advertising revenue of publicly traded newspaper companies, making for a very gradual yet substantial increase in shares.
Source: Share Of Newspaper Advertising Revenue Coming From Digital Advertising, Journalism.org
However, the rise in the amount earned through digital advertising is not enough to counterbalance the losses made with the traditional ones. In fact, the rise of the share of digital advertising revenues shows less the strengths of publishers in the segment but expresses the significant losses in the traditional print media. Newspapers are so far not able to fully replace the losses through this means.
Digital and print advertising revenue of U.S newspapers (2003-2014, billion USD), Statista
As a result of the turmoil, newsroom furloughs, layoffs, and closures have increased in the past few years while the newspaper employment levels overall continue to decline as the need to reduce the head-count for many industry participants increases. Between 2008 and 2014, the total number of U.S. newsroom employees plummeted to 90,000, with the decline being driven primarily by newspapers.
Source: Newsroom Employment At U.S. Newspapers, Pew Research
The number of newspaper employees dropped by 51% in the course of the past few years alone.
Commerce Content And How It Supports A Publisher’s Monetization And Content Strategy
To offset losses and create new pillars of earnings, publishers develop various monetization and revenue strategies focussing on the new digital opportunities. Besides digital ads in its various forms (programmatic, direct-sold), video advertisement, digital subscription models, or e-commerce concepts make it to the list of important current efforts of the publishing industry. Commerce Content as well represents a pillar with strong growth and is one of the few forms of content that besides returning profits also serves as a value add for readers and audiences for a publisher.
The Commerce Content market for publishers
Affiliate Marketing is one of the most popular monetization concepts used for Commerce Content. Its growth rate has been reaching double-digits in some of the most developed markets since the early 2010s, and it is expected to reach a value of 17 billion dollars at the end of 2020 according to Awin.
In addition, various Commerce Content concepts monetize via display advertising (USD 57 bn market in 2020) or brand budgets (also: branded content, market size estimated to 20 billion by 2021). Also, CPC monetization plays an important role.
To tap into this market potential, nearly all publishers around the globe have launched initiatives, concepts, and products in Commerce Content by today. The concepts vary between in-house effort, partnerships, and acquisitions.
Already in 2016, the New York Times has acquired the Commerce Content powerhouse “The Wirecutter”, for more than $30Million. Known for publishing in-depth product reviews and guides, The Wirecutter drives significant transactions and attached affiliate commission by producing independent editorial picks. The New York Times has just recently fully integrated the Wirecutter and its offering as a sub-brand into the digital brand of the New York Times. The CNN builds with CNN underscored its own brand for providing Product Reviews, Gift Ideas, or Gadget guides. At the end of 2017, Shibsted acquired KickBack, a specialist for digital coupons and rewards. The DailyMail in the UK operates together with us, the Global Savings Group, one of the largest discount codes portals in the UK, with around 3 million visitors a month. By today, nearly all large digital publications around the globe, from Brazil, over the US, Europe to Australia operate successful Commerce Content offerings for its audiences in partnerships with specialized Commerce Content solution providers or as own efforts.
All those examples show the growing significance of the channel for publishers and the various strategic approaches to tap into this potential. In Germany, leading publishing house and GSG publisher partner BurdaForward has recently disclosed that Commerce Content accounts for over 35% of the group’s digital revenues.
Commerce Content as the publisher’s weapon to tackle advertising fees for high-intent users journeys
Built on the trust among consumers built over decades, publishers remain highly influential with respect to consumers’ purchase decisions. Despite (social media) influencers gaining traction especially among younger audiences, traditional publishers’ role as facilitators of trusted information and recommendations continues to stay crucial for consumers also in the digital world. Consequently, it’s in the best interest of every publisher to capture a fair part of high-intent user journeys and connected advertising revenues. As a result, publishers need to focus on being relevant for users by providing the right information during their decision journeys to capture more of the digital advertising pie currently owned to a big extent by the large tech companies (GAFA) that constantly deploy strong advertising concepts for high-intent users.
Attracting audiences through Commerce Content is key to expanding beyond low-intent formats like display advertising and the likes, as well as increasing the balance in the distribution of earnings of the growing digital advertising pie. This will allow publishers to expand beyond the role of creating attention at low prices, and monetize some of the most intentional parts of the user journey, which are already organically being facilitated.
To be able to fulfil their journalistic mission also in the digital age, it’s essential for publishers to be able to capture a substantial share of the ad spend continuously moving to digital formats. On the one hand, they need to develop the right formats (where Commerce Content can be a very important one), on the other they need to be able to use the trust and authority they have built among their audiences for decades to access users during high-intent moments. Only then, publishers can expect to play also in the future a significant role for advertisers reflected through digital earnings needed to pay for qualitative journalistic content. Besides supplementing revenues, Commerce Content allows publishers to serve their users and readers better, by offering broader services, covered in quality ways.


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PR Agencies Need To Reposition To Survive In Post COVID-19 – Jaiye Opayemi
The Managing Director and Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, a reputation management firm, Jaiye Opayemi has urged public relations agencies to rethink strategies, remodel their business operations and act as consultants to clients in order to survive in the post COVID-19 era.
“We need to change our business model and position ourselves as consultants, so that people can address us as problem solver when they have challenges,” he said.
Jaiye who is also the President of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) made this known at the Live Instagram Chat organised by Brand Communicator, Nigeria’s leading brands and marketing communication publication, where he spoke on the topic, “Reputation Management Amid and Beyond COVID-19 Pandemic.” It is noteworthy that the live chat was hosted by Joshua Ajayi, Publisher /Editor-in-Chief.
He also advised PR agencies to reposition their talents as companies will be looking for research analysts not writers.
“As PR firms, we need to beginning to look for consumer neuroscientist, who will analyze the minds of consumers in the time of crisis,” he said.
As regards trends that are disrupting PR practice during the lockdown, he said even in post COVID-19 era, technology deployment will be at the forefront. He explained that it is already playing out in the way clients and agencies now holds their meetings and parleys online.
Also, he said during the lockdown, online engagement increased and brands leveraged on the platform and are now even looking for innovative ways to stay connected with customers.
Similarly, he pointed out that the time of pandemic is the best time for brands to rally around their customers and show that they care, stating “Any brand that fails to stand with consumers at this time, risk the chance to go into oblivion,” adding that “A lot of people are looking up to brands than government.”
He therefore advocates that perception management agencies should advise their clients to embark on corporate social responsibilities and support their communities.
He pointed out that some practitioners are behind the scene and are supporting some brands at this period by coming up with strategies that will make them stay connected to their target markets.
He explained that a lot of brands are missing out of the benefits in supporting customers at this time as customers will only remember those brands that stood behind them. “They will go for the brands that stood with them when the pandemic is over,” he said.


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Taiwanese manufacturers gear up to offer WiMAX products
Feb 25, 2008
Taiwanese hi-tech manufacturers are preparing to introduce WiMAX products, with MediaTek Inc. ready to ship WiMAX chips sometime in the first half of the year.
MediaTek Chairman M.K. Tsai is bearish about market for WiMAX applications and estimates the market will begin to take off in 2010. People familiar with the company's WiMAX plan point out the company's WiMAX chips will migrate to 65-nm process geometry when the company begins volume production of the chips. They said MediaTek would first target the chips on computer and handset applications in initial stage.
Asustek Computer projects WiMAX-enabled notebook computers to account for 15% of its total shipment by the end of this year and 20% next year. The company plans to introduce mobile WiMAX customer premise equipment (CPE) in the second quarter.
Quanta Computer's executives pointed out their company will begin shipping WiMAX products in big volume next year and the company is developing WiMAX products now. Quanta Microsystems, owned by Quanta Computer, will plan and manufacture the parent company's WiMAX products.
ZyXEL Communications will begin delivery in April this year WiMAX products that it co-develops in collaboration with Sprint Nextel. ZyXEL Chairman S.Y. Chu pointed out MediaTek will help bring down prices of WiMAX CPE as soon as it begins to ship the chips in the second quarter. Chu estimated WiMAX demands to begin taking off in first quarter next year.
GemTek Technology Co., Ltd. plans to ramp up shipments of WiMAX CPE in second half this year from current 20,000 to 30,000 systems a month. The company's chairman, H.W. Chen, pointed out WiMAX market will likely take heart next half should prices of indoor and outdoor WiMAX CPE considerably drop.
Accton Technology Corp. and its affiliate, Accton Wireless Broadband Corp., are working on new WiMAX products and have maintained close business ties with Motorola, Alcatel-Lucent, NEC and Alvarion Ltd. Accton has begun shipping mobile WiMAX products and planed to ramp up shipments in third quarter this year. The company has projected to ship 300,000 sets of WiMAX products throughout this year, raking in revenue of around NT$1 billion (US$31 million at US$1:32) from the sales.
Recently, Alcatel-Lucent unveiled a WiMAX application and interoperability center in Taiwan. Executives of Taiwanese WiMAX equipment suppliers including MediaTek, GemTek, Asustek, Quanta, ZyXEL and Accton attended the opening ceremony.
source & copyright: CENS


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It is time to see what’s Trending Now on ‘CCO. And who knows more about what’s going on around town and around the country than Jason Matheson. LOCALLY Trending Now: The Green Bay Packers are […]
Seafood and what to eat has been controversial, with over-fishing seemingly emptying the world’s oceans. So where can you get the best, sustainable seafood in the Twin Cities? Dara has you covered and here’s her Top 5!


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URGENT talks are being held to keep a high street chain’s main store in Dewsbury.
WHSmith will close its Princess of Wales Precinct branch on June 30 when its lease expires.
It blamed ‘excessive’ rent but said its bus station shop would stay and it would consider other town centre premises.
The company is in talks with precinct owner Ravenhill Estates, Kirklees Council and Dewsbury and Mirfield MP Simon Reevell to see if a solution can be found.
And the Reporter can exclusively reveal that high street chain Perfect Home will open in the precinct in September.
The homeware store plans to open 75 shops across the UK in the next five years.
WHSmith property director Chris Williams said: “Whilst we remain committed to Dewsbury, the proposed rent was excessive. We will continue to look for further opportunities and should a suitable location become available in Dewsbury we would look into this.”
When WHSmith closes, Dorothy Perkins, Boots and New Look will be among the few high street stores left in the precinct.
Boots manager Wendy White said: “We were really staggered when we heard the news. There are very few of what you might call heritage high street stores in the town so it’s really sad to see WHSmith go.”
Dorothy Perkins manager Kirsty Dearlove added: “We just wish the owners of the precinct would think. If we all go, there’s going to be nothing left to come for.”
But Ravenhill’s letting agents, Savills, defended the company.
Director Steve Henderson said Ravenhill was working hard to keep tenants and offer incentives to attract new ones.
He said there had been four empty units in May 2010, but there was only the old Jack Fulton unit left empty now that Perfect Home had signed up.
He added that the company was in talks with two other retailers about the last unit.
Mr Reevell, who has talked with WHSmith’s managing director, welcomed the arrival of Perfect Home and said he hopedto talk with Ravenhill soon.
Meanwhile, Kirklees Council’s regeneration director Ken Gillespie said: “I’m keen for all parties to meet up so that we can try to find a solution which would allow WHSmith to continue trading in the town.”


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Don’t be surprised if you see more people dressed as comic book figures than in kimonos at this year’s Japan Day in Düsseldorf. Organisers of the annual gathering celebrating Japanese culture expect up to 10,000 costumed anime figures to pop right out of their mangas and walk the streets of the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday.
The anime fans have taken to replaying the stories of their comic books in so-called Cosplays, or Costume Plays. For the second year, they will perform in an area of the festival space on the banks of the Rhine River that will be dedicated to the thriving Japanese pop culture that blends both cuteness and violence.
Düsseldorf’s Japan Day certainly isn’t some stuffy recognition of Japanese life in Germany. It’s a gigantic event likely to draw some 800,000 enthusiasts from around country. Bringing tens of millions of euros to Düsseldorf businesses, the festival allows visitors can see, hear, feel and taste Japan all in one day. Highlights includes typical Japanese cultural specialties such as Taiko drumming, origami paper folding, tea ceremony demonstrations and, of course, plenty of sushi.
What makes the festival unique is that it draws on greater Düsseldorf’s roughly 7,000 Japanese residents and its numerous cultural institutions. These include Japanese schools and kindergartens, a large Japanese club with thousands of members, a cultural center with a Japanese garden and a public library as well as a wide variety of Japanese owned and operated businesses.
Check out the event schedule in advance to plan your visit to the festival that winds up with fireworks over the Rhine. After the lights on the outdoor stage have gone down at 10 pm, the night sky will be filled with colour. Those near the event’s main stage will be treated to musical accompaniment for the fireworks, courtesy of the Düsseldorf Symphony.
The heart of Japanese life in Düsseldorf (on days besides the festival) is centred around Immermannstraße, near the Oststraße metro station.
During a stroll in this area, you may come across Japanese bakeries, bookshops that sell the latest Japanese pop-culture items, Japanese supermarkets and a wide choice of restaurants and design shops.
At an establishment called Bakery My Heart at Marienstraße 26, you can curiously eye delicacies such as teriyaki hamburgers on sesame seed buns (€2.70) and fried noodles packed into sandwiches with carrots and parsley (€1.50). Japanese mothers pushing their strollers will buy their bread staples for the day as you contemplate another combination that surely has its roots in Düsseldorf’s Japanese-German society: a sandwich of battered and fried shrimp and fish with cabbage and tartar sauce.
Browsing some shops that sell custom-made straw tatami mats and other Japanese home accessories can quickly give you the urge for lunch. Head over to Na Ni Wa, a restaurant at Oststraße 55. People sit on a bench that extends on one side of the restaurant to wait for this place’s famous noodles. Once unlocked, the locale fills up quickly with a mixture of Asian and European customers.
An order of Japanese dumplings, a small noodle soup, and a salad with fried fish, shrimp or chicken will run you €13.00 for an excellent meal prepared in front of your own eyes by the chefs working the line behind the bar. No wonder customers are lining up before they even open for lunch. Across the way, the same restaurant operates a sushi bar that’s equally successful.
But at the festival on Saturday, visitors will have their choice of scores of stands selling Japanese delicacies, including noodles, pastries and bread.
Düsseldorf likes to bill itself as a Rhineland metropolis, but it’s still small enough that things can fill up fast on Japan Day. This makes booking ahead a necessity if you care to watch the fireworks aboard one of the riverboats plying the waters of the Rhine on Saturday night.


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Google is reportedly set to enter the smartwatch market this year with the upcoming Google Pixel Watch. Ahead of releasing its first watch, the company seems to be taking steps to make third-party apps a little more professional by making the previously optional Play Store review mandatory.
Just as Google sought a sense of unity with its new phone development guidelines, the new rules should improve the standard of wrist-based apps by ensuring they pass muster before being made available. This rule will apply to all new Wear OS apps from October 1, and existing apps from March 4 2019.
Related: Best smartwatch
The review process for Android apps, Google says, is unchanged by these, and said app updates will not be blocked even if an accompanying Wear app fails the review.
The full review guidelines can be read here, but Google says there are two common areas where Wear developers often fall short: screenshots and support for different screen sizes. The former is simple enough, and can be passed with a single image, which won’t be displayed if an app is in a pre-release state.
The support for different screens is a little trickier, thanks to the many shapes and sizes Wear OS watches come in. While Apple Watch developers only have to deal with one uniformly sized square face, those running Google’s operating system need to run on round screens, square screens and those with the infamous ‘flat tyre’ flawlessly.
Google recommends developers run their apps through the Wear OS emulator to ensure compatibility.
Read more: Best Android phones
“We hope this lightweight app review process will improve the quality of Wear app experiences across the wide range of devices available to your users,” wrote Hoil Lam, the lead developer advocate of Wear OS in a blog post.
“In addition, since screenshots are required for the Wear app review, this will improve the discovery and presentation of your Wear apps in the Google Play Store.”
Will this improve the quality of Wear OS apps? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @TrustedReviews.


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Few industries were as affected by the often volatile uncertainty that dominated 2018 as the ocean maritime freight industry.
Brexit cast a serious shadow over the maritime shipping world in 2018, as the new terms for the relationship between the UK and its largest trading partner, the European Union, remained unknown. The constant threat of an escalating trade war between economic giants China and the United States only further strained these conditions.
2019 has proven itself to be a moment of transition for the industry-- vacillating between recovering from last year’s international turmoil and attempting to be better prepared for the serious changes 2020 will bring.
So, to better understand what 2019 will mean for the ocean maritime freight industry, it might be useful to tell its story in two acts: a reflection on 2018, and an anticipation of 2020.
According to Flexport, a freight forwarding and customs brokerage company, the first half of 2018 featured a global surplus of shipping containers.
Such an overcapacity dramatically plunged ocean carrier revenues. In an effort to curb such a drop, carriers began conducting a series of “blank sailings,” in which a carrier “cancels a particular sailing for a vessel, to reduce supply in the short-term.” However, this practice was rolled back in the last few months of the year as talks of trade wars between the United States and China, the United States and the European Union, and the United States and Mexico (you might sense a trend here), dominated the international stage.
In response, many carriers began to frontload shipments to the United States in an effort to be ahead of any tariffs.
This surge in shipments, coupled with the previous blank sailings, resulted in soaring prices. In fact, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), reported that prices, primarily between the United States and Asia, almost tripled in November 2018.
On the Brexit front, the supply of shippers was also a primary concern.
The UK no longer has a large container fleet actually based in the country. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, in which case the UK’s trading with the EU would be stripped of membership privileges, UK shippers might have to rely on feeder services, essentially a shipping container delivery service.
This was the stage set for 2019-- incongruous strategies to deal with divergent macro-issues such as uncertainty and rising prices.
Rising prices affecting the maritime freight landscape also came from the unexpectedly fast rise in oil prices we saw at the beginning of 2019.
According to Bloomberg data, “High-sulfur fuel oil at the Dutch port of Rotterdam in January is now trading at about $16 a barrel less than crude oil, close to the strongest in 18 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The discount was $28.50 less than a year ago.” Since, then, the report states, prices have been steadily rallying.
This is the crux of the transition moment 2019 represents for the maritime freight industry. The industry needs to both recuperate from the high prices that spilled over from 2018; yet, it must be dynamic in making provisions for what next year will bring --the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, or IMO 2020.
The IMO is gearing up to launch a landmark set of regulations that will seriously limit the amount of sulfur that can be in a ship’s oil.
And being prepared is not optional. According to Flexport, these regulations will “cost carriers at least $15 billion per year.”
IMO 2020 is aimed at curtailing the pollution caused by the shipping industry by reducing fuel sulfur oxide emissions by 85%.
As it stands today, if the shipping industry were a country, it would be the sixth largest polluter in the world, consuming around 4.4 million barrels of oil a day.
And the stakes are getting higher. A study submitted to IMO in 2016 found that, should nothing regarding maritime shipping’s emissions change, “the air pollution from ships would contribute to more than 570,000 additional premature deaths worldwide between 2020-2025.”
So, aside from environmental benefits-- what will the effects of IMO 2020 on the investor and consumer?
Estimates today report the cost of port-to-port moves will increase by 10-20% and will likely be paid by the end user.
In fact, shipping giant Maersk has calculated that IMO 2020 will result in a serious increase in fuel costs, which will push the company’s costs over $2 billion, and announced it will shift those rising costs onto the customers.
To stay ahead of the curve, many freighters are currently renegotiating or offering forward contracts. However, Citigroup analysts believe, “The current forward market has already been pricing in the impact of IMO 2020, but may not be showing the full impact, with part of this masked by tight heavy sour crude market.”
Those looking to invest in the maritime shipping industry in 2019 or 2020 must be extremely vigilant. Experts warn to ask questions about these forward contracts, such as “What will your forwarder do if the underlying carrier discontinues a service or pulls capacity” and “How many carriers are underwriting the forwarder?”
Ultimately, 2019, and likely 2020, will be tumultuous for the ocean maritime freight industry. But, those armed with the right information and right questions may be able to carve themselves a long-term spot in the sector.
Tlou's Managing Director, Mr Tony Gilby said “The Company will now progress with additional work on the ground to deliver a Gas-to-Power solution that can bring significant benefits to the country and to our shareholders. I look forward to updating the market as we continue to develop the project."
Tone Goh, Executive Chairman of GST, commented: "The Company is delighted to have signed this LOI with SIAM. SIAM are one of Thailand's leading business groups and we look forward to working with them to progress this planned data centre project.”
Five financial stories, trending today in a 60 second podcast, including: Google has barred phone maker Huawei off from receiving some updates to the Android operating system, dealing a blow to the Chinese firm and their new smartphones will also lose access to popular Google apps. The move comes after the Trump administration added Huawei to a list of companies that American firms cannot trade with unless they have a licence.
On today's podcast: Glen Goodman author of, "The Crypto Trader", talks about the recent rise, fall and rise again of Bitcoin. Russ Mould covers Stock Spirits, Nichols & Vodafone. Alan Green talks about: Cadence Minerals, RA International & BigDish.
SP Angel research note on commodities and miners, featuring: Anglo Asian Mining* (AAZ LN) BUY – 126p – Earnings update African Battery Metals* (ABM LN) – Kisinka copper-cobalt project field programme completed BlueRock Diamonds* (BRD LN) – Funding raised to implement new mine plan Pan African Resources (PAF LN) – Q3 results on track to meet guidance of 170,000oz of gold production


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Online Shoppers Want Help Making Decisions
Harris Interactive and IMShopping released a new survey that shows American consumers want the same personalized customer experience they receive in brick-and-mortar business when they shop online. And the lack of assistance can prevent them from making a purchase.
Not surprisingly, most of the survey respondents do shop online (74 percent). And of that amount, 77 percent would be interested in assistance from a real person before making an online purchasing decision. But the most insightful result from the survey was how not getting assistance can prevent online shoppers from making a purchase -- 52 percent.
As an e-commerce merchant, the results of this study should encourage you to revamp efforts to connect with your consumers. Do you have online chat available for those who have questions? Are you proactive and reach out to those who mention your company on various online platforms? Do you facilitate easy ways for potential customers to contact you if they have questions? All of these things can increase your customers’ experiences which can possibly turn them into reoccurring customers.
"No level of automation can replace the human touch. The results indicate that shoppers still want real people to help them purchase products, even in a digital setting. Many retailers have started taking steps in this direction and we believe it will be the single biggest push for the retail industry over the next several years," the CEO and founder of IMShopping, Prashant Nedungadi said in the news release.
How do you increase your customers’ experiences? Comment below.
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reacted to condemnations trailing the directive to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to desist from transacting in Cryptocurrencies.
In a statement on Sunday, Osita Nwanisobi, Acting Director, Corporate Communications, clarified that the CBN circular of February 5, 2021, did not place any new restrictions on cryptocurrencies.
He recalled that all banks in the country had earlier been forbidden, through CBN’s circular dated January 12, 2017, not to use, hold, trade, and/or transact in cryptocurrencies.
Nairobi noted that the CBN’s position on cryptocurrencies is not an outlier as many countries, central banks, international financial institutions, and distinguished investors and economists have also warned against its use.
He said China, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Cambodia have all placed a certain level of restrictions on financial institutions facilitating cryptocurrency transactions.
CBN said in China, cryptocurrencies are completely banned and all exchanges closed as well.
Nwanisobi said even famed investor Warren Buffett has called cryptocurrencies “rat poison squared,” a “mirage,” and a “gambling device.”
“Mr. Buffett believes it is a “gambling device” given that they are most valuable because the person buying it does so, not as a means of payment; but in the hope, they can sell it for even more than what they paid at some point.
During an online forum hosted by the Davos-based World Economic Forum a few weeks ago, Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, highlighted the extreme price volatility of cryptocurrencies as one of the biggest flaws and explained that this flaw makes it impossible for them to be used as a lasting means of payment.
“It is not surprising he would take that position because, Bitcoin, the best-known cryptocurrency, hit a record high of $42,000 per unit on January 8, 2021, and sank as low as $28,800 about two weeks later. This is far greater volatility than is found with normal currencies.”
Nwanisobi said first, in light of the fact that they are issued by unregulated and unlicensed entities, their use in Nigeria goes against the key mandates of the CBN, as enshrined in the CBN Act (2007), as the issuer of legal tender in Nigeria.
In effect, the use of cryptocurrencies in Nigeria is a direct contravention of existing law.
He highlighted the critical between a Central Bank issued Digital Currency and cryptocurrencies, adding that as the names imply, while Central Banks can issue Digital Currencies, cryptocurrencies are issued by unknown and unregulated entities.
“Second, the very name and nature of “cryptocurrencies” suggests that its patrons and users value anonymity, obscurity, and concealment.
“The question that one may need to ask therefore is, why any entity would disguise its transactions if they were legal. It is on the basis of this opacity that cryptocurrencies have become well-suited for conducting many illegal activities including money laundering, terrorism financing, purchase of small arms and light weapons, and tax evasion.
“Indeed, many banks and investors who place a high value on reputation have been turned off from cryptocurrencies because of the damaging effects of the widespread use of cryptocurrencies for illegal activities.
“In fact, the role of cryptocurrencies in the purchase of hard and illegal drugs on the darknet website called “Silk Road” is well known. They have also been recent reports that cryptocurrencies have been used to finance terror plots, further damaging its image as a legitimate means of exchange.
“More also, repeated and recent evidence now suggests that some cryptocurrencies have become more widely used as speculative assets rather than as means of payment, thus explaining the significant volatility and variability in their prices. Because the total number of Bitcoins that would ever be issued is fixed (only 21 million will ever be created), new issuance is predetermined at a gradually decelerating pace.
“This limited supply has created a perverse incentive that encourages users to stockpile them in the hope that their prices rise. Unfortunately, with a conglomeration of desperate, disparate, and unregulated actors comes unprecedented price volatility that has threatened many sophisticated financial systems.
“In fact, the price of ether, one of the largest cryptocurrencies in the world, fell from US$320 to US$0.10 in June 2017. The price of Bitcoins has also suffered similar volatilities.
“Given that unlike Fiat money, which is accompanied by full faith and comfort of a country or Central Bank, cryptocurrencies do not have any intrinsic value and do not generate returns by themselves.
“When one buys a stock, say of a conglomerate in the Nigeria Stock Exchange, its price reflects the activity and production of that conglomerate and the value people place on their goods and/or services. This price may rise as the conglomerate produces better goods/services and probably gains greater market share.
“The reverse would be true if the conglomerate does not innovate to improve the quality of its goods/services. In other words, the price of that stock reflects market fundamentals.
“In contrast, cryptocurrencies do not have fundamentals and would never have fundamentals. Investors only buy in the hope that its use and acceptability will rise, thereby pushing up its demand and price.
“But since new versions of cryptocurrencies come on stream with new mathematical models, an infinite supply may someday crash the price to zero.”
CBN stressed that its actions are not in any way, shape, or form inimical to the development of FinTech or a technology-driven payment system.
The apex bank said to the contrary, the Nigerian payment system has evolved significantly over the last decade, leapfrogging many of its counterparts in emerging, frontier, and advanced economies propelled by reforms driven by the CBN.
The statement said this was evident from the variety of participants, products, channels, cutting-edge technology in the payment’s system.
CBN said the system was validated by the astronomical growth of volume/value of transactions and the fact that Nigeria is an investment destination of choice for international financial technology companies because of CBN’s policies that have created an enabling investment environment in the payments system.


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Amazon is "weeks into" negotiations to purchase Metro Goldwyn Mayer for about $9 billion, according to a Monday report by Variety.
The deal is reportedly being orchestrated by a senior VP of Amazon Studios and Prime Video, Mike Hopkins, who is in direct contact with MGM board chairman Kevin Ulrich.
Earlier, reports started to buzz and speculate about a possible sum for the deal, estimated to be between $7 and $10 billion.
Established in 1924, MGM is one of the world's oldest film studios. The corporation indicated its readiness to be acquired in December 2020, rolling out a price tag of around $5 billion at the time. With over 4,000 film titles, the company suggested that a buyer would own one of the “deepest libraries” of premium media content.
Among the titles are the James Bond, Hobbit, and Rocky/Creed movies, and one could also discover 17,000 episodes of TV shows such as “The Handmaid’s Tale", "Teen Wolf", “Vikings" and “In the Heat of the Night".
Amazon is enjoying over 200 million Prime members around the world, after reporting 175 million Prime video viewers the previous year.


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With Veterans Day right around the corner, there’s no shortage of companies donating 20, 30, or even 50 percent of their sales proceeds to causes that support America’s men and women in uniform.
But Wolverine, maker of the iconic 1000 Mile Boot, is going one step further. Between Nov. 7 and 14, the Michigan-based shoemaker is giving 100 percent of the sales from its limited edition Coyote 1000 Mile Boot to Operation Finally Home, which serves wounded, ill, or injured veterans and their families. To date, Operation Finally Home has built over 200 custom, mortgage-free homes across 33 of the 50 states.
“Partnering with Operation Finally Home is a way to show our support for veterans and our customers, builders, who generously offer their time and contacts to build custom homes for veterans,” said Andrew Shripka, vice president of marketing for Wolverine. “Through donations and discounts, we also hope to give a small token of thanks to veterans, active servicemen and women, and Operation Finally Home for everything they do.”
Beyond the feel-good factor, the $400 boots are a seriously solid iteration of a classic design. Traditional 1000 Mile Boots have leather soles, but this pair, in an go-with-anything shade of tan, features a featuring a Vibram rubber outsole and Horween Natural Marine flesh-out leather, the same material that World War II-era Marine boots were cut from. (They turned it inside out and left the boots unlined because the tanned exterior was soft enough for Marines to wear the boots without socks.)
A nod to history that gives back to service members in need? That’s a good deal.
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NEW YORK -- The Grain Foods Foundation yesterday launched a multimillion-dollar public education campaign to highlight the beneficial role that grain products, particularly bread, play in a healthy, balanced diet. The campaign, launched here and Washington, D.C., is the foundation's first effort to publicize the nutritional benefits of breads and grains.
Using the tagline "Bread, it's Essential," the Grains for LIFE campaign was created to highlight the numerous ways in which bread and grain products can contribute to longevity, intelligent eating, fitness, and energy. The campaign will reach consumers on the street, in such health-based locations as gyms and doctors' offices, in grocery stores, and online at www.grainpower.org. Methods of publicizing the campaign include billboards, wallscapes, the Reuters Jumbotron in Times Square, and costumed "bread ambassadors" distributing educational materials.
A recent survey of more than 2,000 American adult consumers conducted by Harris Interactive for the Grain Foods Foundation found that while 50 percent of those surveyed say that they "love eating bread" and 50 percent say they "eat bread almost every day," only 12 percent know that bread can contribute to the prevention of serious health conditions. Moreover, 24 percent of those surveyed think that carbohydrate restriction is a sensible dietary approach.
Other important survey findings are as follows:
--Nineteen percent of women age 35 to 44 think that bread is unhealthy or fattening.
--Nine percent of women age 35 to 44 believe that bread can help prevent serious health conditions.
--Sixty-four percent of those age 18 to 34, including 70 percent of women in this age range, say they love eating bread, while just 39 percent of those age 55 years or older feel the same way.
"What we've found is a dichotomy among American consumers," said Grain Foods Foundation president Judi Adams in a statement. "We have a sensory and emotional connection to bread -- the taste, the smell, the memories that bread evokes -- but for the most part, consumers are unaware of how bread can contribute to the prevention of heart disease, some cancers, birth defects, and diabetes, as well as maintaining optimal health. Our campaign is designed to balance that equation by reinforcing all the reasons why including bread in your diet is a smart choice."
Grains for LIFE public education materials incorporate information gleaned from the Grain Foods Foundation literature review of over 900 peer-reviewed scientific studies on health, disease, and nutrition. The review, which was released last October, found, among other things, that:
--Grain-based carbohydrates aren't the problem in obesity, and that diet extremes relying on restriction of any food group are not sustainable in the long term and could be harmful
--Grain products, including folic acid-fortified enriched grain products, are healthy -- providing good sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other healthy components, and may reduce the risk of early mortality and chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and birth defects
--Carbohydrates are needed to support a physically active lifestyle necessary for optimal health.
Grains for LIFE materials will be available to the general public through the Grain Foods Foundation Web site, as well as through partnerships with medical and consumer health organizations such as the March of Dimes.
The Grain Foods Foundation, a joint venture of members of the milling and baking industries, is dedicated to advancing the public's understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the human diet. Directed by a board of trustees, the foundation receives its funding through voluntary donations from private grain-based food companies, supplemented by industry associations.


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This comprehensive guide begins at Alfava Metraxis and ends at Doctor Who Magazine wins the ACE Press Award 0 Following its record breaking ABC figure earlier this year, Doctor Who Magazine had cause for further celebration at the 2014 ACE Press Awards held https://www.levitradosageus24.com/ viagra bedeutung online apotheke at the Museum of London. This may take a second or two.
JW "Bill" Marriott to Be Inducted Into Tourism Hall of FameSeptember 2, 2008 By: Travel Agent Central Contributor
JW “Bill’ Marriott, Jr. will be inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame at Tourism Cares' gala dinner and fundraiser on September 16 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.
“The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors individuals who, among other business accomplishments, have made significant personal contributions to travel and tourism through philanthropic, volunteer and mentoring activities," said Bruce Beckham, executive director of Tourism Cares. "Mr. Marriott exemplifies all of those activities and more.”
Tickets and table sponsorships are available at www.tourismcares.org


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German premium auto maker Porsche joined hands with its Bahrain dealer Behbehani Brothers to launch the new Porsche Panamera GTS in the Kingdom.
The car was unveiled at an event at Moda Mall, Bahrain World Trade Centre, and was attended by
Germany-based premium auto maker Porsche will unveil the much anticipated Panamera GTS at the forthcoming Qatar Motor Show in Doha.
The international auto show will run from January 25 to 28 at Doha Exhibition Centre. January 23 and 24 wil


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Slingshot Malware Infects Network Routers, Kaspersky Lab Reveals
“Slingshot,” a form of router-based malware, surfaces in cyber-espionage attacks, Kaspersky Lab reports.
Applebee’s Security Breach: Malware Hits RMH’s Point of Sale Restaurant Systems
Applebee’s discovers & removes malware on point of sale (POS) systems across nearly 170 restaurant locations, according to RMH Franchise Holdings.
Malwarebytes: Mac Malware Threats Increased More Than 270% in 2017
Malware that targets Apple Mac operating systems more than doubled between 2016 and 2017, cybersecurity & anti-malware software company Malwarebytes indicates.
Comodo: Hackers Use SWIFT Financial Messages to Hide Malware Attacks
Hackers use Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) messages to disguise malware attacks, the Comodo Threat Research Lab reports.
Meltdown, Spectre Malware Alive in the Wild, Fortinet Confirms
Malware that exploits the Meltdown & Spectre vulnerabilities is alive in the wild, Fortinet’s research of nearly 100 publicly available incidents indicates.
Zoho ManageEngine Patches Multiple MSP Software, Service Desk Vulnerabilities
Zoho ManageEngine patches several security vulnerabilities in its IT management platforms, including ServiceDesk Plus MSP. Digital Defense shares details.
ATM Jackpotting Cyber Heists Hit U.S. Cash Machines
Cyber gangsters launch ATM “jackpotting” attacks against U.S. cash machines, stealing more than $1 million so far, U.S. Secret Service source says.
AppRiver Report: 1,000% Increase in Phishing Attacks in 2017
Email & web-based spam & malware attacks impact global organizations in 2017, a cybersecurity study conducted by AppRiver shows.
Magento XSS Attacks: Helpdesk Widget Used to Target E-Commerce Shops
Hackers use a helpdesk widget to launch XSS attacks to take control of the backend of Magento e-commerce websites & infect them with card stealer malware.
FireEye: Schneider Triton Attackers Sought Infrastructure Damage Not Data or Money
How Triton attack targeted industrial control systems, in this case Schneider’s controllers, according to FireEye digital cybersecurity forensics.


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Seprod launches new dairy products with eye on exports
Seprod Limited has added a new condensed milk to the market and will in short order put out a non-dairy sweetener, on the heels of investments geared towards increasing its market share both locally and overseas.
But the company insists the new product sold under the Serge brand won't eat into the market held by Betty, saying it is a more upmarket version intended for distribution at home and in the Caribbean.
"There are two distinct markets. Betty is about 80 per cent and the Serge condensed milk will be around 20 per cent," he said of the local market.
Seprod produces its own dairy products under the Serge brand, but also manufactures Betty and Supligen on behalf of related company, the Musson Group.
The Serge condensed milk hit the market just this past weekend. A condensed non-dairy creamer is set for release by month end, CEO Richard Pandohie told Wednesday Business following the company's annual general meeting on Monday.
"It's a part of our transformation, moving to the full dairy business. Condensed milk is still a popular product," Pandohie told Wednesday Business when pressed on why the company chose this product given the near $300 for which Betty condensed milk now retails.
The Betty brand was added to Seprod's portfolio after Musson International Dairies Limited acquired the dairy operations of NestlÈ Jamaica last November.
The new condensed milk will be "premium to Betty," Pandohie said. "We want to drive down unit cost."
"Can we get the price down? That's our hope, because we think that's one of the things that has significantly affected consumers' ability to support local companies," he said.
Seprod is also reworking the quality and consistency of Betty given consumer complaints that the milk was not thick enough.
"We actually had an experiment with a lower price and the consumers didn't react as positively as we would like," he said.
With Betty being a big sell in diaspora markets, Seprod is banking on a similar wave for the new condensed in CARICOM, with expectations that the trade rules inside the bloc would offer some level of market protection against imports outside the territory.
"There is a lot of condensed milk being imported from other South American countries. We now have the capacity to supply all of CARICOM. So under the rules, they are not supposed to be able to bring in condense milk," said Pandohie.
"We expect that with the CARICOM rules applied, we are going to be the preferred supplier of condensed milk for the entire CARICOM," the Seprod boss said.
Seprod is also to do co-packing of milk for other companies, he said.
The condensed creamer, set for launch later this month, is aimed at people who don't want to use dairy-based sweeteners.
"It's very well known throughout the world. They call it 'fill condensed milk' or 'condensed milk creamer', but it's not in Jamaica. So we will introduce it," Pandohie said.
The company has already rolled out an evaporated milk and whipped cream.
The new products fall under a $5-billion capital programme spanning Seprod's various businesses.
Pandohie reported that the sugar operation continues to underperform, and this year will fall "well below the 16,000 to 18,000 tonnes [of sugar] required for the operations to make financial sense". The crop year ended at midyear.
Last year, Seprod outsourced the agricultural side of Golden Grove Sugar Estate FM Jones Estates and Westmoreland-based Bercyn Farms.
Pressed on whether the outsourcing had yielded the results expected, the Seprod boss said while the current operators are "definitely better at the field operations," the drought affected cane yields.
"It was the right decision and we maintain that position," he said of the outsourcing decision.
"The conditions for replanting have been much better this year, so it will give us much better results next year," he said.
Additionally, as a sugar marketing agent, the company plans to forge ahead with its liquid and refined sugar products, among others, to boost sugar revenue.
Seprod also invested $200 million in an irrigation system to improve grass production for the benefit of its dairy herd. The funds were pumped into the company in the last few months "in phases," Pandohie said.
"Our target is to move from the 2015 figure of eight litres per cow per day to 15 litres per cow per day by Q2 2017," the CEO told shareholders.
That target is set to be realised, since up to June the yield had reached 11 litres per cow per day, he said.


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Cutting food waste helps solve the hunger problem
The numbers are simply staggering. The juxtaposition is worse.
Forget farm to table, farm to fork, or farm to wherever. Forty percent of the food produced in this country doesn't make it from farm to mouth.
You want that in dollars? It's about $165 billion. Broken down by family, it comes out to $2,225 a year. Lost. Wasted. Food bought and paid for that ends up in the garbage.
Now take those numbers and put them next to the fact that one of every six Americans is considered "food insecure." They are unsure where their next meal will come from.
If you were to eliminate 10 percent of that waste, through reclamation and reuse, you could solve the hunger problem. If only it were that easy.
Cooked to order
In a kitchen in Green Hills, Owen Clark shifts a skillet of sauteed apples. They're part of a dish with sweet potatoes and cubed chicken he is preparing.
The chef de cuisine at Rolf & Daughters volunteers his time as part of a guest chef series at the Nashville Food Project, and the task is a bit like "Iron Chef." He gets a list of what's available, already prepped (washed, peeled, chopped), and turns it into a meal.
On this day it included a salad made from a case of lettuce from Silo restaurant, kale from the project's own garden, sweet potatoes from Delvin Farms and slices of pie from Whole Foods. All of it is food that was not dumped and wasted. It will instead delight senior citizens at two Metro Development and Housing Authority towers.
"It's really fun," says Clark as he speaks with Tallu Schuyler Quinn, the executive director of the Nashville Food Project. "I'd really like to see where it's going," he adds.
The "where" is a host of meal distribution partners with whom the project works, from Front Porch Ministries and the McGruder Family Resource Center, to the Vine Hill Towers and Operation Stand Down.
Quinn says the food waste prevention programs allow them to deliver between 1,100 and 1,200 meals per week to 16 partners. About half of the meals go to after-school programs where students can gather enough food to take home at the end of the day and deliver dinner to the whole family.
Meals also are used as an incentive to bring people to the table, so to speak, whether it's a gang prevention program or to help get parents involved in a school. "Hunger is a symptom of poverty, and food can help bring people into shared space and out of isolation," asserts Quinn.
In addition to gleaning from farms, restaurants and grocery stores, Quinn is especially proud that the project, through two primary urban gardens, produces much of its own food. That includes 4,000 pounds of organic produce on just one-tenth of an acre last year behind their office on the grounds of Woodmont Christian Church. With Nashville's growing season and the use of hoop row covers, they now produce fresh greens 10 months out of the year.
It's the cooperation of partners who donate food, much of it destined for the dumpster, that really drives the reclamation engine.
Solving the problem
For Raj Karmani, a graduate student at the University of Illinois, those staggering statistics sounded a clarion call to action.
When Karmani arrived in the land of plenty from his native Pakistan he was immediately caught off guard. How could hunger coexist with wealth in one of the richest countries on the planet?
As he dug deeper, he saw the problem as a simple equation of supply and demand, and set about leveraging his studies in coding and software development to find a way to bridge the logistical gap.
What started as a hobby project at a hackathon in Champaign-Urbana is now his Chicago-based company Zero Percent, named after the global effort to reduce food waste.
"I could see that restaurants were having a hard time connecting with nonprofits," Karmani says. He began to see the challenge of scheduling available excess for pickup and delivery and used Chicago as a way to test his app and see how well it could grow in scale.
Through a partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, an organization deeply involved in the food waste issue, he chose Nashville and the Nashville Food Project as the first pilot of the new technology outside of Chicago. The full program launches in January, and Karmani hopes to add Minneapolis and Cincinnati as well.
"That 10 percent, just a fraction of the waste, if we can use that we can feed everybody. I saw tremendous potential there," he says, echoing Quinn's proposition that this is not just about the union of food and technology. "We're using Zero Percent like a social network, for coming together to solve a problem. It's about technology and people."
Millions of pounds
Across town, on a much larger scale, Second Harvest Food Bank has seen a significant increase in the amount of perishable food it has received. If you think the organization is only about canned goods, consider that it brought in 10 million pounds last year, with most of the perishables from around 200 grocery stores like Wal-Mart, Kroger, Publix and Food Lion.
As a member food bank of Feeding America, that contributed to the more than "two billion pounds of safe, edible food diverted from waste," says communications manager Elizabeth Bradbury.
While Second Harvest passes most perishables on to other hunger relief partners instead of converting them into fresh, prepared meals, as it once did with Nashville's Table, it started Project Preserve, which accepts donated ground beef. The beef is then cooked to produce boil-in-a-bag and tray-pack meals. This is part of a broader effort to produce "products" for disaster relief and feeding programs, Bradbury says.
She admits that the biggest challenge is logistics. In one instance, a dedicated sweet potato farmer in Lincoln County had a bumper crop. He could have sold some for seconds or diverted them for use in deer food or biofuel, but instead earmarked his sweet spuds for Second Harvest.
It turned out he had even more than it could use, so the food bank turned to other partners farther afield to help with the distribution.
What you can do
While people like Karmani address logistics to connect commercial outlets to food programs, and while Quinn cooks delicious meals and delivers them, it's a reminder that the third leg of this stool is the home.
The NRDC offers great strategies for efficient uses of food that include freezing, refrigerator management, leftover ideas, shopping strategies and composting.
For example, did you know that the door is the warmest part of your refrigerator? It faces the outside and is exposed each time you open it. That's why, despite manufacturer-designed shelves, you shouldn't put a perishable like milk there. Instead, use it for condiments.
Hunger in this country is an enormous but solvable problem. While it will always begin with the root causes of poverty, addressing how and why we waste so much food can help so many people move beyond the ache of an empty stomach.
Reach Jim Myers at 615-259-8367 and on Twitter @ReadJimMyers.
About that crisper drawer
More than half the fruits and vegetables we buy end up in the garbage. A lot might have to do with the "crisper" drawers in your refrigerator. For some folks, the food becomes lost and forgotten when tucked away in a drawer, but used effectively, they can help prolong the freshness.
Crispers use nothing more than sliders that control humidity. For low humidity, you want things like apples, squash, peppers and mushrooms. In high humidity, put your broccoli, sprouts, carrots and leafy greens. Just think of what gets misted, and what doesn't, at the grocery store for a quick guide.
For more information:
The Nashville Food Project
3605 Hillsboro Pike
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
331 Great Circle Road
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212
Chicago, IL 60654
Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook (Chronicle Books) by Dana Gunders
Gunders is a staff scientist for the NRDC and wrote this fantastic guide to help consumers cut down on wasted foods.
Restaurants already signed up to work with Zero Percent:
Miel Restaurant, Mitchell Delicatessen, City House, The Wild Cow, The Produce Place, Margot Cafe & Bar, and Strawn Restaurant Group (Mack + Kate's, Smokies BBQ, m.market).


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Asahi Kasei Asaclean Americas Inc. is commercializing Asaclean Plus, a high-performance concentrate-grade purging compound.
The new material "fills a hole in our product line" while offering cost savings, Senior Marketing Manager Tom Hanvey said in an interview with Plastics News. It will be available in June.
Asaclean Plus is a heat-activated concentrate ideal for hot runners and low flow areas and has extremely effective compatibility with all resins, officials with the Parsippany, N.J.-based firm said. It's also an excellent cleaner with low-residue formula and its purging power can be tailored using a concentrate ration based on individual applications, they added.
In addition, officials said Asaclean Plus leads to significant savings on shipping and storage and excels in injection molding, extrusion and blow molding.
"We were trying to find a way to keep the same purging level but make it more simple," Vice President Phani Nagaraj said. "[Asaclean Plus] can be mixed in with the production resin, so you're not paying for a carrier resin."
Hanvey, a PN Rising Star in 2020, added that the firm "is always looking at product development to bring value solutions to our customers."
Asahi Kasei Asaclean Americas made PN's Best Places to Work list for the seventh consecutive time in 2021. The firm, which makes Asaclean-brand purging compounds, changed its name from Sun Plastics Inc. in July. It's been a unit of Japanese conglomerate Asahi Kasei Group for almost 25 years, serving injection molders and extruders across North and South America.


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Netflix has started to roll out games on its mobile app. Starting November 3, Android users will be able to download and play five titles with no ads or in-app purchases. As for iOS users, they can access the games at a later date.
In August, Netflix started testing games in its Android app in Poland with Stranger Things 1984 and Stranger Things 3. The test expanded to Spain and Italy the following month with three other casual games — Shooting Hoops, Teeter Up and Card Blast — none of which are connected to Netflix shows or movies.
Everyone with a profile on a Netflix account can play the games without the need for a separate subscription. However, the games are not available on kids profiles. Users who have set up a PIN to prevent access to adult profiles will need to enter their code to play games too.
After experimenting with interactive shows and movies over the last few years, Netflix has made it clear it is eager to gain a bigger foothold in gaming. During its Q2 earnings call in July, the company said its most serious gaming push to date would start on mobile.
Netflix says the initial batch of five titles are just the beginning of its gaming aspirations. In September, the company bought a game studio for the first time in the form of Oxenfree developer Night School Studio.
“Just like our series, films and specials, we want to design games for any level of play and every kind of player, whether you’re a beginner or a lifelong gamer,” Mike Verdu, Netflix vice president of game development, wrote in a blog post.
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